Expanding our understanding of eating disorders through a wellbeing lens

Summary

Building on the dual continua model, this study examined how mental wellbeing relates to eating disorder psychopathology alongside broader indicators of positive mental health and mental illness. A sample of 554 young women aged 18 to 35 completed measures spanning wellbeing, eating disorder symptoms, and other markers of mental health and distress. The authors analysed how these positive and negative dimensions co-occur, testing whether wellbeing and eating disorder pathology function as distinct constructs rather than opposite ends of one scale. The findings reinforced the value of viewing eating disorders through a wellbeing lens, showing that positive mental health is not simply the absence of symptoms. The authors argue that incorporating wellbeing into eating disorder research and care can enrich prevention, assessment, and treatment approaches.